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County Administrator's Report 15. 13.
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| BCC Regular Meeting |
Budget & Finance Consent |
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| RECOMMENDATION: |
Recommendation Concerning Establishing a Design Team and the Reorganization of the Transportation and Traffic Operations Division - Joy D. Blackmon, P.E., Public Works Department Director
That the Board take the following action concerning establishing a Design Team and reorganizing the Transportation and Traffic Operations Division:
A. Authorize the creation of two Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funded positions, a Design Engineer and a Lead Drafter/Project Coordinator, per the provided job descriptions and organization charts;
B. Authorize the one-time capital and/or operational expenditure for necessary equipment (Design Team) at approximately $102,742, and the annual recurring software fees for approximately $12,317, per the provided "Design Team Costs" spreadsheet; and
C. Authorize the reorganization of the Transportation and Traffic Operations Division, per the provided organization charts, and the creation of a Division Manager position, which will be advertised internally to Public Works and will eliminate the vacancy created from internal recruitment, which will result in a net zero increase in Full-Time Employees (FTE).
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| BACKGROUND: |
In 2003, a Design Team was created for Escambia County. That Team consisted of a Manager (Professional Engineer), a Design Engineer, a Lead Drafter, and a Drafter. This Team functioned very well until 2007 when the team transitioned to Project Management due to the economic downturn. Over the four years that the Design Team was together, there was a net savings of hundreds of thousands per year in design fees. Under the direction of Jack Brown and as a result of the current economic situation, this new Design Team would pick up where the initial team left off. Current staff will fill the Manager position (Jeremy King) and the Drafter position (John “Mike” Kirkland).
The Design Engineer and the Lead Drafter positions need to be created and filled. These positions would work solely on capital projects and would therefore be funded via Local Options Sales Tax. Current estimates show that were the Design Team to complete approximately one small design project per month, the cost savings would be approximately $138,000 per year for the first year, increasing as experience increases.
This Design Team would fall under the responsibility of Colby Brown, Deputy Director for Public Works, Design and Transportation. As his responsibilities would increase with the new Design Team, a Division Manager position will also need to be created for the Transportation & Traffic Operations Division, and the Division should be reorganized to assure that the essential functions of the Traffic Division are maintained and ultimately function more efficiently.
Capital Outlay for start up will include purchase of the Design Team engineering design and drafting software with the computer stations to run such programs, andequipment upgrades. This is estimated at a one time fee of $102,742. Approximately $12,317 will be the recurring annual fee for software. |
| BUDGETARY IMPACT: |
The estimated calculations show that we will have a cost benefit savings of $137,661 (see attached "Design Team Cost Benefit Analysis"). In subsequent years, the benefit is expected to increase significantly. This program will be monitored annually by the Administrator.
As a result of the Traffic reorganization, there is a potential overall increase of $36,529. However, with the reorganization, $152,350 would be allocated to LOST, therefore putting $116,091 back into the General Fund (see attached "Traffic Re-Organization" spreadsheet). |
| LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF: |
| N/A |
| PERSONNEL: |
| N/A |
| POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION: |
| N/A |
| IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION: |
| N/A |
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